The long wait is over and England are ready to play their first match at a home World Championships this century!
Not since Manchester 1997 have England athletes had the chance to showcase their skills in front of a home crowd in the sport’s pinnacle event – and not since 1954 in London.
This Saturday, that all changes as Stage 1a of the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals London 2026 Presented by ACN gets under way.
Head to WTT YouTube channel for live streaming of every table throughout the championships.
The Championships is back at OVO Arena Wembley, the same venue which hosted that 1954 event, as well as those in 1935, 1938 and 1948.
And the sport returns with a bang as the seven top-ranked men’s and women’s teams, and England as hosts, play off to decide seeding positions in the Round of 32.
It means spectators can enjoy a dazzling array of top-quality matches involving almost all of the world’s top players. Click here to see who is in each nation’s squad.
England men will take on China, Sweden and Korea Republic in Group 1, while the women face Japan, Germany and France in Group 2.
Click here to read more about England’s record against their opponents.
Check out the video below to hear from England stars and see their final preparations at the venue.
Men’s Group 2 features France, Japan, Germany and Chinese Taipei, while women’s Group 1 comprises China, Korea Republic, Chinese Taipei and Romania.
After two days of play-offs, the eight countries involved in Stage 1a will know their seeding from 1 to 8 and they will then be drawn into the Round of 32 to face one of the nations to qualify from Stage 1b at the Copper Box Arena.
Those matches start on Monday 4 May and it’s straight knockout all the way until the champions are crowned on Sunday 10 May.